Sharing What My Kids Want
~ But Won’t Necessarily Get ~
Kendal (age 8):
An iPod Touch
Webkinz Stuffed Animals (about 10 on her list)
World According to Humphrey Books
Caroline Abbott (American Girl Doll)
Clothes for her American Girl Doll McKenna
CDs
A hamster
Hugs and Kisses from Mom & Dad
Drew (age 5):
A hermit crab
A real crab
Webkinz Stuffed Animals (about 10 as well)
Ninjago Books
A remote control helicopter
Legos
Hexbugs
Nintendo DSi
What are your kids asking for? Do you feel the need to buy it for them? I am conflicted because I want to get them what they want, but as they get older their tastes get more expensive. Not sure what to get and how much to get, or if I should just get them something different than what they are asking for? Advice???
Thats always a touch one, especially since kids start wanting the more expensive things at an earlier age now. Mine are almost 16 and 13, and ever since i can remember when they have asked for a “big” something [game consoles, computers,phones,etc] I ask them how bad they really want it.. Would they be happy if it was the only thing they got, or would they prefer to get several gifts with one thing they really wanted. So far they have still always chosen to get more instead of just the one thing. I always let them know if there is something that I won’t even consider and why [price,age,etc] and they have always been pretty accepting.
Is it feasible for you to get one of the more expensive things on each of their lists and then just get a couple of less expensive things? I just got my youngest an r/c helicopter on Amazon for $20 (here’s the link – it’s a bit more now, but srill reasonable: http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Yellow/dp/B004A8ZRB0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353898607&sr=8-1&keywords=helicopter+remote+control). I haven’t looked for an Ipod Touch, but I’m sure you’ll be able to find it at a reasonable price. If you think there are other things that they’d like but aren’t on their lists, then go for it – you know them better than they know themselves when it comes to presents LOL!
Love the real crab!!! My girls seem to ask for everything that they see on tv or down the aisle, so I am not sure if it is truly something they want, or just want because they saw it. When shopping for my girls I think about what they play with everyday and try to add to what they already like, (Little People, Barbies, dress up clothes). My 5 year old has asked for a Barbie 3 story house, and the only way she is getting it is if I win it LOL.
I would have each of your kids look through their list and tell you the one thing that they really want, and then try to get them that one thing. For your sake I hope it is not the iPod or the real crab.:)
Heather Garcia
mamasita2oandr@comcast.net
Tough tough call! My 10 year old really wanted an ipod touch but we vetoed that request. I don’t want him having internet access at his fingertips. We’re always trying to remind them that stuff is really expensive. We did a $5 gift for each family member last year. I’ll tell you details about it later….. but it really helped them understand the price of stuff! As for the hermit crab? Not a chance lol We did that one time and it was a fiasco for our family! 🙂
I know the feeling. Always before I’ve been able to buy them most of what they want, but now they are 15 and 18. I told them I have a limit of around $300 per kid. If yours are still believing in Santa, it is gonna be harder.
My advice is to get the book The Sparkle Box and try to start explaining about giving on Christmas rather than getting. They are at an age where they should be able to empathize with other children who have nothing. Talk about maybe asking for one webkinz and giving one to a child who doesn’t have toys. With the ipod touch, I’d get her a cheap version of it, if it is the top thing on her list. If she’s got an American girl doll already, have her save up to get another and just buy the clothes.
I know it is tempting to give them all they want, but we already live in a society that thinks they are entitled to everything they want. We have to teach them that they just can’t have it all.
Glad my son can’t tell me what he wants yet 🙂
My three kids have circled just about everything in the Toys R Us book. I have the pick the three things they want the most and I put those in the letter to Santa. Then the other things I tell people who ask what to get them.
Definitely get the books. That one’s a no brainer. I think if you get a hampster you definitely have to get a hermit crab for the other one. Its only fair. I would get the ipod but make her wait until her bday for the american girl doll. They’re both so expensive so i picked the one i think she would get more use out of. The cds would be good for the stocking but if you have an ipod you dont need cds. I would get them each 2 or 3the webkinz just because 10you’re is ALOT in my eyes. If you get her the ipod you should get him the nintendo and a game or two and then choose between the legos and hexbugs. This is what i would do. Of course we could never afford that much. My daughter is getting an innotab bundle, paints, and candy and hairbows in her stocking. And that’s really going to stress our budget but i figure its only once a year and we will just have to be super frugal
Daughter pretty much wants everything she sees!! But she’s getting a few additions to her little play farm (playing farm on the farm, it’s pretty nifty), and some new My Little Ponies that she doesn’t have (getting harder and harder to find those, since her Pony Army is almost equal to the Barbie one I had as a child), and she is getting a few HexBugs, because they’re hours of fun (which I don’t understand, but whatever keeps her entertained!).
Son is just getting a few toys, mostly cars, since “vroom vroom” is the sound coming from him when he has anything in his hands.
Advice…hmmm..good luck…LOL…The hugs and kisses are the easiest on the lists always 🙂
It seems like children at the younger ages are asking for expensive gifts. Perhaps it’s not about the dollar amount, however, I don’t think children understand the value of the items they ask for. BOOKS are always a good item to get and many children don’t have those on their wish lists. I would recommend that you show them their lists again and ask them to pick the three things they want the most. One thing I have found with children and young adolescents is that they want more than one gift. Quantity is always paramount with them. So, I usually get the smaller items and they don’t need 10 or more Webkinz, which makes up the quantity portion of gifts. then it’s your choice if you want to purchase one of the larger (more expensive) items. Does your daughter really need more than one American Doll?? With regard to the electronic items — I think both of your children are too young for these items. Maturity and responsibility in handling these items do not do well in the hands of a 5 year old and an 8 year old. I know these electronic items are all the rage, but I really think they can wait until they are able to understand the responsibility in handling these items.
Good luck to you and I’m sure you will make the right decisions for this Christmas.
As for me, I’m a grandmother whose 5 year old and 3 year old grandsons want the Nintendo DS and that’s all they have asked for. Unfortunately, Grandpa and I decided we are not the ones who will be getting it for them and their parents agree! No electronics until they can handle the responsibility!
They really don’t have lists that are too bad! We’re not talking iPads and laptops! I would say that you should get them what you know they’ll use. For instance, I know my girls wouldn’t take care of the iPod so I wouldn’t get that. I don’t buy the American Girl dolls, either, bc they’re simply too expensive. My girls have a good grip on the fact that I don’t have money for expensive things so they make their lists accordingly. Other than that, indulge them!
Tiffany
I don’t know if this would work for you, but it’s what I plan on doing when my godson gets older and starts asking for expensive toys. Right now he’s happy with the ones he sees at Dollar General 😀
I’ll buy an amazon (or walmart or wherever the item is located at) gift card for half the amount and give him that. Then I’ll tell him he can earn the other half by doing extra chores. Examples: cleaning out the car, going through his old toys to donate (.50 for each toy that he gives away)… Extra things that aren’t already expected of him to do. Then, at the end of each week I’ll get a new gift card to give him with the new total or add it to the one he already has. That way I’m not out a bunch of money at once, he’ll take better care of the toy once he gets it since he worked for it, he learns the value of money, and best of all, if the toy was just a passing phase because he saw it on tv then he can choose a different item when the time comes.
Other than that, the items being asked for aren’t completely unreasonable (besides the crab hehehe). I def get the books, because every child should be encouraged to read. The pets are iffy. If your children are responsible, then go for it. Every kid deserves a pet if they can take care of it. If not, tell them to save their money to buy one themselves. Get a few of the stuffed toys but not many. Personally, what my parents did as we got older is for each present we got that was a toy, we got rid of something else. It helped us learn that giving is good and to not be to greedy.
At Christmas last year I found an iPod touch 4th generation for $189 that I bought. Way out of my budget though. At the time Audible had a promotion for a $100 Amazon gc with a 1 year commitment. I did that. Audible was my gift for myself and I was able to get his iPod for $89. That was the “big” thing he got. I bought some smaller toys and Santa got him an Axe gift set that he has been wanting. This year we did a family gift at Black Friday and bought a tv for $300 and 7 hours of my time (he was at his dads and I went for the fun of it…..no craziness at Sears that day! Met a bunch of nice women and we had fun! Anyhow. Since that took pretty much all the Christmas money, I bought him one “big” thing and that is an xbox 360 for $149+tax. All his xbox games will work on it (I checked on that first). I will sell his 2 xboxes He has to make up for part of what I spent. I also bought a few things throughout the year that are small (wallet, DVDs, fossil set). Just have to do something from Santa now. He understands that we don’t have the money for lots of stuff, and that really helps. For now he isn’t asking for anything, but will show me what he likes. He is really into pokemon so maybe I can find something with my next check.
I would do the iPod touch and dsi, and 2 of the cheaper things. I don’t often buy books for my son as we use the library. I don’t like to buy books that wont be read again. I have all my books from when I was younger and have started selling the sets bc I read them once and that was it. Now I only buy books I will read again and again. We are avid readers. The iPod would eliminate CDs. Culd get a gift card to go with it. Maybe 1 webkins apiece (not sure of the prices on those….don’t know what they are), and legos and a set of AG clothes. Are AG as expensive now as they were when I was a girl??
My son’s Christmas presents from us are always a surprise for him. The element of surprise is better than knowing what they actually get. I always get educational ones, whether he likes it or not.
More importantly, we always tell him that he should always be grateful for whatever people give him, or for whatever is served on the table. He doesn’t have to have what his school friends have. And he knows well that we mostly get what we “need”, not what we “want”.
But that’s just us 😀
We are buying less but spending more this year. My girls are tweens, and as you say they want better stuff. My oldest is getting a very expensive Sony Tablet, a couple of books she wants, and Some Twilight stuff. My middle is getting a laptop, a digital camera, and some side stuff like stuffies, braclets and stuff. My youngest is getting a bed stuffed animal (it is the bed so it’s like you are sleeping on a stuffy), a rolling razorz back pack, stompees, a leap pad tablet, and probably a Cloud b turtle. That’s about it. I have been buying all year to do it!
I am past the point of having to buy gifts for any children–but in the past–Aunt Michele would get lists, long lists of what they all wanted!! I generally got them 2 gifts each—
Stephanie is asking for a bike. In our tiny apartment, there is no way she can have a bike. Since she’s still little, the excitement of Christmas morning might make her not even notice there is no bike. But if she brings it up I plan on telling her that Santa doesn’t buy everything we ask him for…they are suggestions and he picks a few things and even throws in some surprises. That’s what my mom and dad always told me 🙂 (And I know what you mean about things getting more expensive as they get older. I remember being older and getting 1 or 2 big things from Santa while my 8 years younger sister still got tons of toys. lol.)
JDaniel has Hexbugs on his list along with a marble run and camera.
Honestly my kids are too young to get what they asked for. Hayley is adamant she get an iPhone. No lie this is what she wants bc she always plays with me. There is no way in this world she will ever get that until at least her teenage years. I think it is important to put a limit on spending and buy one or two big gifts.
What a tough call. I remember as a kid, getting the one big thing I asked Santa for and the rest were maybe things I mentioned or my mom and dad thought I would like. My two year old asked for a pig and a cow this year, not sure that’ll be coming down our chimney! haha
Wow! Big lists! Our kids don’t really have a list. They are just excited!
Tall order and so cute. I love the hermit crabs. Go Santa! My son is 11 and wants a phone, but we are holding out for one with little or no frills. Wish us luck on that one. My daughter is 8 wants Barbie and doll stuff, which is easy. She also wants a cupcake maker, which she got when she was 5 and used once. We will try to fulfill that somehow. Every year, we try to keep it simple and not go overboard. But it always happens as soon as you combine all the gifts from relatives!
ha! quite a lot of similarities on those lists to what my kids want.
legos, A DS (won’t happen), iPad (again..won’t happen), anything Ninjago, remote control helicopter, and more webkinz! lol.
I have already started shopping for my kids and the cost is really starting to add up ALREADY! I think I am just going to budget a certain amount for each and not go over that amount.
I am not sure what half of those toys are but my daughter has a guinea pig {hamster reminded me of it} and it is super cute! I also had a fish tank with crabs in it one time. They are really funny to watch!
Dawn
HA – i can see how the desires get more expensive with age
My kids are not old enough yet to form a list of what they want (thank goodness). With the Hubs being medically retired we are going to be on a tight budget this year. Thank heavens for wonderful family & friends who are helping out this Christmas. Not to mention, we are hoping to get custody of Step-son sometime in December as well. This is still up in the air for now but everyone is also on standby to give him the best Christmas after such a huge change.
-Jessica
I can only imagine how expensive the gifts will get each year iwth my girls. Right now, my lists are still manageable (except for the Furby which they aren’t getting at $50 a piece). My advice is to just search around for the best deals on anything you wanna get off their lists. I am on all kinds of sites and in stores every week to find the best deals. it’s a lot of work, but this time of year is a wallet-killer so there is no other way to be!
So cute, love the real crab thing. Jackson has decided he wants a dog (not gonna happen) and lots of cars. We can do the car things. We’ve been searching deals online and slowly picking stuff up for good prices. I can’t imagine how expensive it will get when they’re older!
I shop after holiday sales, Easter, Christmas, etc every year and stock up. I also watch deal sites. I only allow my kids one of the hottest toys each year and Santa brings it. My husband went out for Black Friday deals because the oldest one wanted the iPod touch. We just lucked out for hotwheels, CVS had them free with their card and we are allowed to have four cards in our area so we just scored those and a few other toys free from deal shopping.
My daughter is 4, and told me she doesn’t want anything. She threw out all the toy catalogs.
I think the best is to set a budget and stick to it. And as they get older add 10-15 a year to it. And as their tastes get bigger, they may only get the one gift, and then several smaller ones, but they will catch on.
I know growing up my parents didn’t follow lists too well. And part was we wanted things out of a budget. We didn’t have a lot of money. But my parents did what they could.
Something else we did, and I do with my kids, is 1 toy, 1 book, 1 article of clothing, and than 1 FUN item. That might be on the list, or just something unexpected. And if you start young enough, you can do that and never have to worry about what they are getting.
These lists are really cute. Love the hugs and kisses. 🙂 I honestly don’t remember how my parents handled the Christmas list thing… I’m sure my siblings and I didn’t get everything we asked for, but obviously it didn’t scar me too much since, as an adult, I don’t remember the things I *didn’t* get. 🙂
I know what you mean about their tastes getting more expensive as they get older. we spoiled the girls last year and this year it won’t be like that and they’ll have to live with it.
I got a pet as a kid, and it really helped to teach me responsibility and about what happens when we die. I was given a hamster for Christmas, and he lived to be 7. I would get your little ones a pet!